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?

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 19 – 20

John 19

Jesus is in the presence of Pilate, who scourges him. Soldiers give him a crown of thorns and he is mocked as “king of the Jews”. Pilate, still finding innocence in Jesus, presents him before the Jews who cry out that Jesus should be crucified. Pilate tells them to crucify Jesus themselves. In the typical writing style of the New Authors (where the establishment/power bumbles in fear because of the masses), Pilate begins to fear the angry crowd, takes Jesus back inside for more questions, and again finds not fault. Pilate wishes to release Jesus but the crowd name drops Caesar and Pilate gives in, eventually releasing Jesus into their control.

Jesus is crucified at Golgotha with 2 others, and Pilate places a title of “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews (19:19) over him. Jesus clothes are split among the soldiers. In a rare turn of events, Jesus mother Mary and Mary Magdalene are present. There is 1 disciple there as well, and when Jesus sees his mother Mary, he tells her “Woman, behold thy son!” (19:26) and to the lone disciple he says “Behold thy mother! (19:27) and that disciple eventually took Mary into his own home.

“Behold thy mother!”… so the veneration of Mary isn’t so non-biblical. Jesus tells his follower that Mary is his mother as well. Which makes so much sense that the Christian denominations that DO venerate Mary can do so based on biblical verse, as they fight off the denominations that do not agree with this veneration. Jesus’ attitude towards his mother is quite different in John than in the previous gospels.

Jesus thirsts, is given vinegar, and dies with his “new” last words: “It is finished” (19:30). What happened to “my god, my god, why have you forsaken me?” The time to remove those crucified comes, Jesus is brought done but not before a soldier pierced Jesus side with a spear (to verify death?) and “blood and water” came out of Jesus.

Is blood and water symbolic of something else?

Apparently these post-death steps were to fulfill prophecies NOT included in the bible, that either the author of John had reference to, or just made up to “bare record” (19:35) to the entire testimony. Joseph Arimathaea takes Jesus body away, Nicodemus brings ONE HUNDRED POUNDS of myrrh and aloes for Jesus.

WHY SO MUCH? Was Jesus a GIANT?

Jesus is placed in a new sepulchre close by, and no mention if it’s Joseph Arimathaea’s or not.

John 20

Much like the rest of the gospel of John, there are some differences in the tomb story as well. Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb, finds it open, chases down Simon Peter who along with another disciple run to the tomb. The other disciple discovers nothing but Jesus’ linens on the ground.

20:9 – For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

What?! Jesus didn’t tell them in John like he did in the other gospels?

The disciples, for whatever reason, just go home. Mary Magdalene stays weeping and apparently there are now 2 angels (not one who zapped the guards unconscious as in Matthew?) in white inside the tomb. They speak to Mary asking why she weeps, she explains it, and turns to leave, where she is met by Jesus (who she thinks is a gardener (20:15)) who asks her who she is looking for. Jesus speaks her name, and she realizes who he is.

20:17 – Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father…

That’s interesting… is he in the process of ascending? If he touches her will it spoil the process, or keep him from ascending to begin with? Not sure what information we are missing here but there is definitely some context of “not touching” someone who hasn’t ascended yet.

That night, Jesus goes to the disciples who are hiding from the Jews and presents himself with his wounded hands and side.

20:22 – And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

This is where I have to raise the yellow flag again… why are the disciples being given the power to remit sins? Unlike in the previous 3 gospels, where once Jesus and his 12 went out and preached, that mission was over and the next step was the impending arrival of the kingdom of Heaven with Jesus on the throne in the clouds. In John it sounds like we are going to be setup for a continuation of Jesus’ mission of forgiving sins through his disciples. THESE ARE NOT THE SAME STORIES. These gospels do not match.

Late comer Thomas encounters Jesus and recognizes him. This is where we get the oft quoted verse: “… blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (20:29). Which today is often used to say “You don’t need to see to be a believer”.

One more chapter and ZERO mention of the impending kingdom of Heaven… wow. The “end game” of John is WAY different than the other 3 if this is the case.

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 1 and 2 – The Word, The Light, New Labels and Concepts

John starts way different than the 3 previous gospels. Much like Wisdom was introduced in Solomon, we get introduced to a concept/existence of something called the Word that was with God “in the beginning” (of what? Let’s not assume the beginning of time, there is no description here.) He tells us about John the Baptist who was sent to “bear witness” (1:8) of this new concept called “Light”.

It all sounds like an allegory of Jesus (light) being sent to his people (darkness), a people/darkness that did not comprehend it (1:5).

John 1:10 – He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

There it is, he was in HIS world, a world of Jews/Israel made by him (explained either with Adam or Abraham.) Not the entire planet. John seems to be writing from a point of view long after Jesus died because he also says “He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (1:11)

Could this be a reference to Gadara (Gad) and possibly other of the 12 nations of Israel that might have rejected/”not received Jesus”. Sounds like it to me.

1:18 – No man hath seen God at any time…

Not Adam, Abraham, Moses, etc. all the ones who met and seen “the Lord”? Is this John not knowing that Jacob supposedly wrestled him, or the rest of the stories? Or is John saying that this God is NOT the Lord. Up to this point, Jesus has clearly tied himself to the Lord god of Israel. The conceptual introduction to the Word, Light, and the Words incarnation into the physical as Jesus is over. John starts the narrative (which I will run through like I did in Luke):

We start with Jews and Levites from Jerusalem approaching and interviewing John the Baptist, who tells them he is the “voice in the wilderness” preparing for the coming of the Lord (Jesus.) No mention of Jesus as a child, he suddenly shows up to John to be baptized, who calls Jesus the “lamb of God.”

The story mixes up here a bit, Jesus begins to gather disciples who follow him because they believe he is the Messiah, and rather than call him a prophet, are calling him the Son of God and the King of Israel. Once again quadrupling down that Jesus’ intention was that his disciples see his kingdom come:

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

Not 2,000 years later, not in 2020, there at the time for the disciples to SEE.

John 2

Out of nowhere, we end up at a wedding in a city called Cana. Jesus and his disciples are already together, and Jesus’ mother tells him there is no wine at this wedding. Jesus RUDELY responds:

2:4 – Jesus saieth unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

What happened to honor your mother? Jesus gets six stone water pots, has them filled with water, and sent to the governor to drink as good wine. This was considered Jesus’ beginning of miracles. Not so honorable as raising the dead and healing the blind, but ok. We jump right to the story of Jesus scourging those in the temple and overturning tables because they made his “… Father’s house an house of merchandise” (2:16).

The first challenge between Jesus and the Jews in the temple is that Jesus tells them to tear the temple down and he will rebuild it in 3 days (allegorically speaking about himself rising in 3 days, a point the Jews missed because he corrects them with the context.)

The idea that Jesus was not there to save ALL mankind, or even ALL his people? Jesus is in Jerusalem for passover.

2:23 – … in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

There it is: Even though “many” believed in Jesus and his name, he didn’t “commit” himself to them, because he already knew them, implying he will be seeking out his elect. That’s my theory for John, let’s see how it plays out.

Luke 14 – 18

Luke 14

Repeat: Jesus healing on the Sabbath in front of the Pharisees controversy. Parable of sitting in the lowest room of a wedding instead of the highest. Parable of the man who’s dinner invites abandoned him and he filled the room with random people.

Luke 14:26 – If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yeah, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Why not? Why “hate” your family in the process of being a disciple? I understand that 100 percent devotion needed but HATE? Come on. Repeat: the consequences of being a disciple of Jesus.

Luke 15

Jesus receives “publicans and sinners” and is questioned by the Pharisees. He repeats the parable of the man being overjoyed at finding just one lost sheep. Again, if you feel that all men are sinners, here’s Jesus take, AGAIN:

15:7 – I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over 99 just persons, which need no repentance.

Even Jesus is saying not all men are sinners, that man can indeed be “just”, “righteous” and “need no repentance.” HIS OWN WORDS.

Two parables repeating the moral of this chapter: The joy of finding a single lost coin; The father who loses his sinner son but rejoices when he returns over the son who didn’t sin from the start. “Was once lost, and now found”… so this is where that phrase comes from.

Luke 16

Parable to the Disciples: A steward is about to be stripped of his stewardship, so to make good he goes to the debtors of his master and does something wise (pays off half? Putting him in favor of the debtors AND his master.) The infamous:

16:13 – No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other….

Is this really true? Why is this statement such an “absolute”. It’s like saying a man can’t love two women. The Pharisees deride Jesus for his sayings and he begins to lay down even more absolutes, including this one:

16:17 – And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.

Moses’ law? That law which was barely followed back in the times of the Israelites and even less so now. Yet the earth and sky are still here?

We get the new story of Lazarus, a leper who would wait for crumbs at the gate of a rich man. Lazarus dies and ends up in “Abraham’s bosom” while the rich man dies and ends up in Hell. The rich man can see Lazarus and Abraham from his spot in hell, asking for some water. He asks Abraham to send help to his brothers so they don’t end up in hell, but Abraham rejects him and tells the rich man his brothers should just listen to Moses and the prophets.

Luke 17

Repeat: Woe to those who offend the little ones. Forgive 7 times 70. The verse trap that if you had “faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” (17:6)

Again, I know Christians so faithful throughout their lives, and even they couldn’t perform this feat.

Jesus heals 10 lepers, and only 1, a Samaritan, returns to thank him. Does this mean the Samaritan will be in the kingdom of God? Jesus doesn’t tell him that, he just tells him his “faith” made him whole and he leaves.

Now, we’ve had Jesus say, multiple times, that those of his time will actually SEE the kingdom of God coming (his 12, Caiphas, etc.) yet look at this verse:

17:20 – … The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Jesus has already said the kingdom DOES come with observation, now he’s saying it doesn’t, and that the kingdom of God is within. So which is it? Is he trying to trick the Pharisees with this verse, so that they don’t watch out for it when it does come and get caught by surprise and not enter it? I’m going to figure that what Jesus told his disciples that they WILL SEE it is what his truth is. Hopefully the last gospel of John might add some context.

The end of Luke 17 introduces another idea: that during the day when the Son of man is revealed, people will “disappear”. I believe this is the “rapture” many Christians like to argue about, because the thinking is that these ones that are raptured will not have to endure the tribulations coming.

I wish those arguing about this concept would spend an equal amount of time studying Jesus’ intended target for his mission, as well as why the Lord made his own people sacrifice their children as burnt offerings and if that is a sign of a good god.

So in regards to this rapture, the disciples ask “where did they go?” and of course Jesus answers in figurative language, saying “wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.” (17:37). ?

Luke 18

A parable of a judge who had a woman begging the judge to avenge her, he decides to do it. In verse 7 we get the idea that the Lord will “avenge his *elect*” (18:7) speedily. A parable of a publican and a Pharisee who both pray, the publican gives thanks he’s not a scumbag like the publican, while the publican prays in humility acknowledging his sins.

Repeats: Bringing the children to Jesus, and one rejecting the following because he owned too many things. Camel/eye of a needle, rich man/kingdom of God. Jesus tells his 12 the time has come to be given to the Gentiles and the prophecies regarding him fulfilled. Jesus heals a blind man near Jericho.

Luke 3 -9: Luke 7, Jesus Speaks of Wisdom/Sophia and HER Children

Luke 3

Now that I’ve established the context of the use of the word “world” (not the entire planet or all mankind) and much of Jesus’ life has already been documented in Matthew and Mark and his GOAL is clear (Save the Jews/lost House of Israel ONLY), I’m going to speed faster through Luke looking for anything out of the ordinary or new to the story. No sense in re-hashing every single story, even if they differ here and there.

We get a rundown of John the Baptist meeting with his people, preparing them for Jesus’ eventual presence. It’s here I find out that “publicans” seem to be tax collectors. He tells them HOW to prepare, and that he will baptize them in water, but Jesus will baptize them “with the Holy Ghost and fire” (3:16).

Just WHAT is this baptism of FIRE?

In Luke 3:21 we are told “all the people were baptized” and lastly Jesus was baptized as well. John is taken captive by Herod. Jesus is about 30 years old now and we get a rundown of his genealogy all the way back to Adam? Does it match up with Matthew’s lineage? From what I’ve heard: NO. At this point in my journey it doesn’t matter if it does or not.

Luke 4

Jesus spends 40 days and nights in the wilderness, and is then tempted by the Devil. As we know, it fails, and the devil “departed from him for a season” (4:13). Does this mean he’ll come back the season after? In 4:16 we are told Jesus was “brought up” in Galilee but ZERO mention of being in Egypt as stated in Matthew.

New Story: Jesus reads from the book of Isaiah and begins to preach to the synagogue words which angers the people (something about Isaiah not being sent to help the people (referring to them likely) during the time of Isaiah. Jesus is thrown out of the city (4:29) and they attempted to throw him off a cliff, but he escaped. Jesus goes to Capernaum and in the synagogue there he finds a man possessed, and he casts the unclean spirit out and his fame spreads. Jesus heals Simon’s mother in law, continued to heal those brought to him, cast out unclean spirits, and tells his multitude he can’t stay with them in that city because he needs to go to other cities to preach.

Luke 5

Repeat of the story of Jesus preaching from Simon’s ship, however we get a new story (I think) of how they had zero catch and Jesus filled their boat with fish that they almost sank. The fisherman leave their boat and follow Jesus (James and John). Repeat of the story of the sick man who was lowered down from the roof to be healed, angering the Pharisees, giving us this gem, which I will repeat again:

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

Church doctrine, “someone’s” doctrine, is that ALL men are sinners, yet here Jesus is distinguishing between the righteous and the sinners. Obviously, in Jesus own words, NOT EVERY MAN is a sinner because he recognizes some as righteous. So just who are the righteous Jesus speaks of?

Repeat of the fasting controversy and the old/new bottle parables.

Luke 6

Repeats: picking corn on the Sabbath. Healing the withered hand on the Sabbath. Gathering his personal disciples speaking parables, trap verses, Jesus-isms to them about their upcoming mission (turn the other cheek, love your enemies, etc.)

Luke 7

Repeats: the story of the Centurion’s ill servant. New story: Jesus resurrects a woman’s son in a city called Nain, the people say a “great prophet is risen up” (7:16). Repeat: John the Baptists disciples meet with Jesus, who sends them back to John to inform him of all that is taking place. The Pharisess did not allow themselves to be baptized and Jesus chastises them, ending with:

7:35 – But Wisdom is justified of all *her* children.

Which points me over to the much hated (in certain modern Christian denominations) Gnostics who spoke of Sophia/Wisdom, much the way Solomon did in the book of Solomon chapters 1-7, and even Jesus refers to “her”. VERY INTERESTING! Even biblehub.com lists the original Greek word for wisdom as sophia:

Repeats: The story of Jesus being anointed and the parable of the creditor who forgives two of his debtors (each owing a different amount), insinuating that regardless of the amount that was forgiven, they would love him both equally).

Luke 8

Lots of Repeats: Jesus speaks to a multitude that includes Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna. Parable of the “sowers of seeds”. Jesus denies his mother and family, calling his followers his mother and brethren. Jesus walks on water in the lake tempest. Jesus goes to Gadara and casts “Legion” out of a possessed man, sending the unclean spirits into swine who then drown themselves, Gadara rejects Jesus, etc. The woman who touched Jesus garment and was healed (the idea that Jesus has virtue or “power levels” that he can “feel” leaving him). Jesus resurrects the daughter of Jairus.

Luke 9 – Jesus grants his Apostles “powers”

Repeats: The Apostles receive their powers in preparation of preaching the kingdom of God. Herod becomes aware of Jesus. The apostles return and they feed the masses with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish (hmm esoteric meaning?) Jesus speaks to his disciples/apostles with the consequences they will face by following him. Including, the very important:

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.

Once again, giving us the timeline, IN JESUS’ OWN WORDS, that the kingdom of God will come WHILE SOME OF HIS DISCIPLES ARE STILL ALIVE. Not in 2020, or beyond.

Repeats: Jesus goes to the mountain and meets with Moses and Elias/Elisha. Jesus casts unclean spirit out of a young boy. John talks about the man casting out devils in Jesus name, but doesn’t follow them, but Jesus lets the man be. New Story: Apparently as Jesus went to different cities he was “received”. On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was NOT received by a Samaritan city. James and John ask Jesus if they “command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?” (9:54). Apparently, James and John wanted to weaponize their power against the Samaritan city, but Jesus denied them, saying “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” (9:56).

Repeat: Jesus denying a potential follower a wait period to allow him to go bury his father, and another who wanted to go say goodbye to his family first.

Mark 16 – Added Verses? Thus, Suspect Ending.

The story has changed, quite a bit, compared to Matthew. In Matthew, an earthquake rolls the giant stone away from Jesus tomb. In Mark, the Mary’s find it open already. In Matthew a sparking, electrical “angel” sits on top of the rock explaining that Jesus has risen and left and to seek him out. In Mark, a young man sitting on the “right side” dressed in white explains to them Jesus has risen and left and to seek him out.

An “angel” vs a young man. That is one big difference. I wonder how the other 2 gospels will handle the identity and description of this mysterious tomb character.

Mark 16:8 – And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

WARNING: In early manuscripts, 16:8 is the LAST verse of Mark. So where do verses 9-20 come in? Obviously they were ADDED to these early manuscripts, and I wonder if there is some “oh, how convenient” context put into the later verse to make the stories match up more. Aka the manipulation of man, the presence of the hand of man and his twisting and turning of the context to fit their needs.

Let’s think about this last verse though. Supposing that at one time, this was the only copy of a gospel that some people may have possessed, what does it infer? Jesus is no longer in the tomb, a simple “young man” who scares the Marys tells them he has risen (no proof) and tells them to go find Peter and the disciples, but they run off and speak nothing to anyone in fear. THE END. This was the end of the story. The reader at some ancient time might be amazed at the story, possibly concluding that the kingdom of God did indeed come for Jesus, the 12 disciples, and the chosen sheep. Many mythologies have wild stories of previous “ages” or “epochs” and at one time, this gospel may have just been just that: an old tale of a past age of a hero Messiah who saved his world and his people.

Back to the story as laid out in KJV. Let’s look at 9-20. Jesus first appears to Mary Magdalene. He then appears in ANOTHER form to two unnamed disciples in the country. Then he appeared to the 11 of them and NOW this is where I find Jesus’ words highly suspect! Why? Because it was added in later.

Did the original writer know his story was going to be altered with more text? What would he have thought? What would YOU think if someone added to your story?

In my opinion, and this based on both the ending of Matthew AND Mark, the story just crashes and burns here. Here’s why:

First, the words of resurrected Jesus to his disciples in the added verses to Mark pretty much say “go and preach, the believers will be saved from damnation, the unbelievers will be damned…” but nothing about the impending kingdom of heaven which he told them they would see ALIVE! Here’s some new trap verses:

16:17 – And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Total trap verses: These verses imply that anyone who is a “believer” will be able to do these things. Hence the Christian snake handler type cults of recent generations that take these verses so literally they handle snakes, get bit and die. Victims of trap verse!

This whole story almost seems like a sick practical joke to see just how much they can manipulate people into putting themselves in bad situations. Which is sad because many people who flock to these teachings are in bad places, desperate for help, sick, depressed, suicidal, dying, etc. They then reach out to these words and trap verses, become faithful, and believe one day their prayers will be answered.

After Jesus gives them this last earthly, and seemingly perpetual command, he returns to heaven sitting at the right hand of God, and the disciples went forth teaching. So now that he’s on the right hand side he should be coming any day now, while the disciples and Caiphas are alive right? After all he told them they’d witness before most of them “tasted death”. These endings so far have really strayed away from the impending kingdom of heaven arriving timeline, and I believe that’s why people today think it’s still on its way, because these gospels end with zero mention of the arrival, when in fact, Jesus was preparing everyone (he chose) around them for it.

What a mystery so far. I’m hoping Luke and John will fill in some holes here, however I’m not having much faith they will, because it might tear a hole in Matthew and Mark.

Mark 14: A Zodiacal Transition? The “Man” with the Pitcher of Water? Mark 15 – Mystery of “Forsaken”

Mark 14

Overall the story repeats. Jesus is anointed by a woman in the house of Simon the leper. Judas approaches the chief priests asking for a betrayal price. New Scene: The disciples ask Jesus where they will eat the passover feast. Jesus:

14:13 – And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water…”

Ok from what I’ve noticed in previous stories, the WOMEN are the ones who fetch pitchers of water. So what’s the deal with the symbol of a MAN with a pitcher of water, where have I seen that before?

The Man with the Pitcher of Water

As the story goes, we are in a transition from Jesus’ mortal time on earth to the time of his death. On an astrological level, are these “fishermen” that Jesus gathered, representing Pisces, looking for a man with a pitcher of water, representing Aquarius, all just signaling a transition from one Zodiac age to another? Remembering that Jesus is often equated with the Sun as the “Son”, is this some sort of transition of the sun through these 2 constellations? Food for another blog.

Overall, chapter 14 repeats information as we read in Matthew as we get closer to the end: They eat the passover and Jesus tells them 1 will betray him, BUT, this time no mention of it being Judas is made. We get the body and blood symbolism and ritual. They go to the mount of Olives where Jesus begins to feel doubt but also acceptance. Peter will deny him 3 times, etc. etc.

Changed Scene: In Matthew, Caiphas the high priest ask Jesus if he is the Christ, the son of God. Jesus reply: “Thou hast said it” not denying it nor affirming it. In Mark?

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

This time Jesus says he is, and repeats his words to Caiphas that Caiphas himself will see the coming of Jesus. So Matthew and Mark do line up in terms of Caiphas falling int the timeline of witnessing the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus gets his death sentence and Peter denies him 3 times.

Mark 15

The story line from Matthew doesn’t change much, if at all that I can tell. Jesus is judged, the unbelievable story that the Romans allow the Jews to free one prisoner on the Sabbath, no questions asked, plays out. Jesus is crucified and dies at the 9th hour (in Matthew it was 3 in the afternoon, is this the same? I do not know how the hours are counted in that culture or time period) asking his god “Why have you forsaken me?” (15:34)

The second time reading this I have become a bit disturbed. Why would Jesus yell this out? Was it the human part of him not being able to accept that he was a literal human sacrifice? Maybe he wanted to live longer here? Be a normal man?

“My god, my god why have you turned away from me?”

Was something else supposed to happen other than death, and Jesus at the last moments realizing he is about to die realize that he has been forsaken? Such a mystery. Sure he told his disciples this would all happen, but what if the plan between himself and God had been something else? After all, he spoke to EVERYONE in parables. Was the “plan” a parable in itself? The actual outcome NOT what Jesus thought was going to happen, thus he has to ask god why he has forsaken him? Did God forsake the plan? So odd.

I had another thought: Did Jesus fall victim to one of his own traps? Remember, I’ve stated that the over all end game of many of these trap verses was beatings, dismemberment, maimings, or death. “Turn the other cheek” can mean turning the other cheek and then receiving a death blow. Just thinking out loud but I still find it odd he made that forsaken statement. Was he *thinking* at the last minute before he died he would be saved even though he told his disciples he would die? That the same hand or power of God that would allow disciples to raise the dead would also come in at the last minute and save him from death? A biblical mystery to say the least. I’m sure there are texts written on it but I don’t want any outside influence yet.

The story repeats as in Matthew, Jesus dies, is taken off the cross by Joseph of Arimathaea, who put him in his tomb, with the two Marys in view.