My Bible Journey Is Over

This is a bit emotional because I remember when I first started this blog. I was sitting in a once thriving empty office. My operations were shuttered. I just laid off every one of my employees and was basically sitting in place in my desk chair waiting for further instructions, so I downloaded the iOS Bible app to kill time. It was early 2016 when I started a quick read of the Bible from front to back and I was so excited about all the new information I was gleaning from it, I decided to write my first blog post in March 2017 with Genesis 1 for my 2nd round of front to back studies. So much has changed since then, people who were around are now gone. Friends and family passed on. The world has changed immensely.

I had multiple motivations in my life at that time that pushed me to start studying the bible again as an adult. As a teen I had a dream about a Sumerian god that spoke to me about the end of an age, and a new world I was allowed to pass to, and he, speaking with a loud angry voice I couldn’t understand, allowed me to view both. I knew nothing about Sumeria at the time, as I was a new anthropology major focusing on Native North and South American cultures, my relatives and blood. I wrote that dream down and it wasn’t until the time I started this blog that I saw the connection between Sumeria/Babylon and the Bible and I really kicked my studies into gear.

Coming from a Christian background with family in multiple denominations, I was exposed to a lot of different “belief chains” where we had a lot in common and of course those conflicting differences which caused problems. One questions I always asked myself though was “Why do Christians behave that way?”

This question was in response to: witnessing Christians hating others, war mongering, using bible prophecy to support turning other people “into glass”, lies, hatred of other denominations, hatred within churches, despicable actions of clergy in different denominations, lying, cheating, judging others hard (especially other Christians). More Question Fodder: A good friend of mine, atheist for most of his life, if not outright a religion hating adult, meets a good Christian woman and decides to convert and become one of the most devout Christians I’ve ever met. One day he tells me “I hate Muslims SO BAD I want to see them all dead“. I had a relative whose wife, in front of her entire family, denounced Christianity for witchcraft, shaming her parents and family in front of us all. I have another relative that converted from Christianity to Islam. SO MANY QUESTIONS!

Since 2015 I’ve probably read the bible 4 times straight through. I have copious notes, diagrams, drawings (I attempted Ezekiel’s wheels, the 6 winged Seraphim, as well as the First Beast of Revelation). I wanted an organic run through though. A start where I cleared my head of any bias, predetermined beliefs, Christian “goggles”, and where I can let my mind work to it’s fullest extent to understand the words I came across. So that’s when I started my blog.

MANY of my questions were answered during this blog, and even MORE were answered that I didn’t know I had: the nature of the first covenant. The “chosen ones” as they are called today were INHERITED. How the tribal god of Israel supposedly becomes the god of the universe. Why people say God is evil. The absolute irresponsible use of ancient bible prophecy to justify war and death today. FOR F**KS SAKE PEOPLE READ THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROPHECIES.

The prophecies was a big one for me. Christians cheering on the bombing of Syria because they believed Damascus would be destroyed forever and they had no regret because “the bible said so”. Plus, it would bring about a result that THEY (and modern Jews and Muslims) believed would count them as winners (everyone else loses except these fanatics). I feared WW3 when Clinton promised as president she would place a no fly zone over Syrian airspace. The “burden of Damascus” was everywhere I turned, so I had to look that one up, because I know a few people from Syria and they are the nicest people, not deserving of the hate they received because of their background. When I discovered that the “Burden of Damascus” was fulfilled in 2 Kings 16 I was so happy! I realized with the power of my own research. I can, myself, and anyone else, without having to consult with any clergy, website, or book, figure out if these prophecies really do deal with today. I didn’t have to squint or stretch for an answer, just use the words in the bible themselves. Anyone can.

More surprises: The stated mission of Jesus in his own words, he didn’t come to save all mankind. How bad the books of the bible are jumbled, the chaotic broken timeline and timeline jumping. How different the KJV is from all the other versions. The translators freestyle manipulation of translating the various names, words, and titles of god, gods, yahweh, el shadday, el elyon into one jumbled mess to make their story fit. How angry and evil the Lord was. The shocking revelation of Ezekiel 20:25, which just about had me close up the book and never look back. I was a long distance runner and trained to think quitting is never an option and continued on. The 2nd biggest shocker were all the other named gods! The Queen of Heaven who, when Judah worshiped her, they had good things come their way, as opposed to Jehovah who gave them nothing but war and death. The idea that the middle east was divided up between gods in Deuteronomy 32, and Jehovah’s lot was Jacob his inheritance. He was just one of many gods! Even Paul admits it. Psalms 82 The council of god where the gods were judged! Amazing concepts. The machinations of the temple of Solomon, where the ark, like a new engine, is fired up for the first time, puffing plumes of smoke as it burns off fuel, choking out the mechanic “priests”. The astrology, symbolism, and mystery of where these stories actually came from is what made me keep coming back looking for more nuggets of new information.

It’s a great book, but not one I would turn to for moral guidance. Stoning a man for picking up sticks on the Sabbath? NOPE. I could find better morality in a modern day self help book. The biggest discovery of all: how little the story means to me. I am not of the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus as a man was a great man, a bit rude and crude in regards to treating those outside of his chosen/lost sheep (like the Syro-Pheonician/Canaanite/Samaritan woman and the Fig tree). But his message about treating others was good and his death was brutal, and it really brought back sad childhood emotions I felt when I first read, by myself, the nature of his death on the cross.

All in all this last run through fulfilled my mission: Be able to defend myself, WITH VERSE, from rabid Christians who misuse the bible and the verses to push their agenda of hate, judgement, extremism, or lies on me. It’s not my intention to go out and confront any Christian for a fight, this is all a defense mechanism. I don’t have to cower or buckle from someone with a bible with bookmarks scattered through the pages anymore. I’ve read it front to back, FOUR TIMES in the last 4 years. I put my findings, flaws, misspellings, bad structure and all on paper, with diagrams, drawings, lists, and cross references, and FINALLY the internet. I can now quickly search my entire journey from my phone if need be, to see my research in blog form and defend my arguments. This blog was not to convince the reader, but to put my findings out into the electronic ether. What happens after that is not up to me. It may fade away into oblivion, or maybe convince 1 questioning person to start their own journey. Either way, not my purpose. This was all for my record of doing what very few people do, covering the bible front to back.

So what about the tie in to my dream? I won’t deny that Yahweh might have been here on earth as a god once, along with Chemosh, Assur, Ashteroth, Malcalm, Nisroch, Berith, Dagon etc. ALL GODS MENTIONED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT, leading over peoples, lands, and tribes of the Middle East. Why would a dream point me to a god in this part of the world, which includes Sumeria? Because that’s where the core of my religious beliefs came from as a Christian at the time of my youth: the Middle East. BUT NEITHER I, NOR MY ANCESTORS, ARE FROM THAT LAND. Could it be one of these gods telling me to REEVALUATE my beliefs by reading the bible and figuring it out where my faith really needs to be? What business do I have worshiping and bowing to a tribal god of the Middle East? It seems this dream had me re-evaluate my beliefs and this god steered me out of his lands, and to be honest it was a stern yet neutral steering away. For that, I am thankful and respectful to him/it.

I do think prayers are heard. I think mine were heard, like a mis-dialed phone call, and the god that answered told me, long ago, I got the wrong number, and thanks to the symbolism of my dream, I had to do the hard work of figuring out WHY it was the wrong number by reading the entire bible and realizing I am not of Sumerian or Israelite descent, and that the message in this book does not apply to me. I DIALED the wrong number.

I won’t mock, judge, or look down upon anyone of any race that worships this deity who has become Yahweh/Allah/Elohim and supposedly the ultimate god of the world, (which I don’t believe for one second by the way.)

If you want to believe in and worship the deity that forced his own people to sacrifice their children as burnt offerings in the fire of Topeth because he hated them so much he wanted to make them *desolate*, that’s on you. Read Ezekiel 20 and specifically Ezekiel 20:25.

It’s your choice, not mine. However I’ve established, thanks to the verses in the bible, that this system is NOT my domain to sit in. For now, I give thanks daily for the creation I live in, the system that allows me to eat, drink and survive each day, and maybe one day come closer to the truth, and hopefully die in peace. But it is not the system of the ruthless god of the bible that I will live in, and no one from this point on, can further attempt to scare me that it is. I’ve walked and trodden over that path. It is done. That journey is over, and I have my shield, and that shield is the verses in the book, the very same book some will attempt to smash me with. The battle was long, but now is over. I move on from this book and wash my hands of the evil and wickedness that is purported to be “good” within it. I have nothing to do with it and it has nothing to do with me. Anyone engaging it has my best wishes but that is all. This blog is over, finalized, this journey has come to an end. Wishes of peace to all, but not through the conduit of this book.

-JK 11-5-2020

P.S. Shotout to biblehub.com… if you are a serious researcher this site is one serious asset for translations and bible version translations.

Revelation 19 – 20

Revelation 19 – Babylon Falls. War against the Beast

Rome/Babylon has now fallen and the smoke of the ruins burns forever (9:1). What happens next? Everyone rejoices: the people in heaven, the 24 elders, the 4 beasts and they all praised God because the “marriage of the Lamb is come” (19:7 – 9). John falls to the feet of the voice that spoke this to him, but the voice tells him to stand up, because “I am thy fellowservant” (19:10) so I’m not sure if this voice is one of the “saints” that was once human, but it doesn’t sound like it’s an angel or other “heavenly” deity.

A white horse and horseman appear (the 1st horse, Sagittarius?) and the rider was named Faithful and True who will judge and make war (sounds like Jesus). He had eyes as flame of fire (red/yellow? glowing?) and was followed by his army in white clean clothes, smiting “the nations” with the sharp sword in his mouth. On his clothes and on his thigh: “King of Kings, Lord of Lords” (19:16). An angel standing in the sun calls all the birds of the world to eat the flesh of those that the king of kings leaves behind in his war with the “Beast and the kings of the earth”.

Ok, so the Beast wages war against Jesus. NOT THE DRAGON. The beast(s) are taken and thrown into the “lake of fire” and the rest of the armies of the Beast are eaten up by the birds.

So we have a Dragon, giving power to the Beast and his armies to fight Jesus and his armies. Jesus prevails, according to the prophecy. So what will happen to the Dragon…

Revelation 20

Another angel comes down from heaven with the key to the bottomless pit (again? no mention if it’s Abbadon/Apollyon) and binds up the Dragon, Old Serpent, Devil, Satan for 1,000 years so he can “deceive the nations no more” (20:3) BUT WAIT. It could’ve been permanent, but it was only temporary because someone decided he should be loosed “just a little season”.

John’s vision turns to thrones where all the Disciples who were beheaded, didn’t take the mark of the 2nd (Financial) beast, etc. were judged and spent time reigning with Jesus for 1,000 years. Every other of the dead of the Jews/lost house of Israel had to wait after the 1,000 years was over to be resurrected.

This prophecy replacing Jesus’ prophecy in the Gospels just expands and expands the timeline into THOUSANDS of years. Yet Jesus said “the time is at hand” as he spoke his own words in the Gospels. THIS is the purpose of the book of Revelation. To push prophecy well into the future and replace Jesus’ own timeline.

SO, after 1,000 years of being in the bottomless pit, Satan, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, is released.

Revelation 20:8 – And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, *Gog and Magog*, to gather them together to battle…

Ok, this is BS, Gog and Magog AS DEFINED IN Ezekiel 38:

• Gog: the Land/Nation of Gog
• Magog: the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal

Back in Ezekiel the timeline was the captivity of Babylon, yet in Revelation we have surpassed Babylonian and Persian captivity YET Gog and Magog are still relevant to prophecy, as if they are two different entities.

Anyhow, this army of “Gog and Magog” is consumed by fire from heaven, destroying them after they surrounded the saints. NOW the Devil once again is thrown into the Lake of Fire (is this different from the torturous burning in brimstone?). John sees the “great white throne” (20:11) that everyone else has fled from, and also sees the dead standing before God, in the presence of 2 books, one of which is the “book of life”, which judged the dead according to “their works” (20:12). The “sea”, death, and hell also gave up their dead so they could be judged.

Death and hell are cast into the lake of fire (a promise that death and eternal punishment is gone forever), as well as those who were not listed in the “book of Life”.

Revelation 11: Woes 2, and 3

2nd Woe Continued

The Angel (still standing in the sea and on earth?) tells John to go measure the temple of God, the altar, AND “those” who worship in it.

Revelation 11:2 – But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles.

So we are talking about a new “holy city” that is going to tread over the Gentiles for 42 months (1.5 years). But I thought Gentiles were included thanks to Peter and Paul (sarcasm, sorry). It seems once again this all is exclusive to only for the Jews/lost house of Israel who repented and accepted Jesus.

The Angel speaks of “two witnesses” (Paul should’ve paid attention) who will prophecy in sackcloth for 1,260 days (3.452 years). They are also represented by 2 olive trees, and the 2 candlesticks (2 lit pillars?) in front of the God of the earth. The 2 witnesses have the power to kill men who try to hurt them, as well as close up the skies from rain, and bring plagues to the earth as needed. After they finish up their prophecies the “beast” out of the bottomless pit will fight and kill them. Their dead bodies will lay in the streets of the great city spiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where Jesus was crucified (Golgotha in Jerusalem).

11:9 – And *they of the people* and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies 3.5 days…

Again “of the people”, insinuating the select people, not all mankind will see the 2 witnesses bodies lay in Jerusalem for 3.5 days and will not bury them. Others on earth will rejoice over the death of these 2 prophets. After the 3.5 days the “spirit of life from God” will stand the 2 witnesses up, and they will be called up to heaven in the sight of their enemies, who watch in fear. That same hour, an earthquake will kill 1/10 of the city, 7,000 men “… and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven.” (11:13)

3rd Woe Immediately after the 2nd

The 7th angel sounds the final trumpet and voices from heaven speak:

Revelation 11:15 – The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Now, one might read this as “all kingdoms” but I say the voices are only speaking to the the kingdoms of Judah and Israel aka “the world” (See Luke 2 for context on “the world”). Now, others will say “NO, he will be king over all the kingdoms of the world. Is that so? Look what is said in Luke:

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

So either 2 things are happening here: 1) the Gospel prophecy of Jesus end time is being changed from reigning over Jacob to reigning over ALL, OR 2) People today have mistranslated “the world” used in Rev 11:15 (again) to be inclusive of all, when it’s exclusive to anyone except the Jews and the lost house of Israel, aka “the world” that was going to be taxed in Luke 2:1.

After the 7th Angel and Trumpet sound off, the 24 elders around the throne fall on their faces and worship because the Lord has now taken power to reign, his wrath against the nations has come, and the time to judge has come. He also:

11:18 – … and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

Ok, who is DESTROYING the earth at this time? The things called upon by the angels when the open their seals. Remember they are destroying 1/3 of trees, 1/3 of men, poisoning 1/3 of rivers, etc. I’ve seen modern Christians say those who “destroy the earth” in this verse are modern day oil refiners, land owners, businesses and entire countries. Yet I come to find out this verse is within John’s vision where the ONLY ONES described as destroying the earth are the tools of the Angels of each seal.

Finally, the chapter ends with the temple of God in heaven being opened (so that those on earth can see?) with thunder, lightning, earthquakes, voices, and hail. The “ark” is in there, and like I brought up way back in the Old Testament, it sounds like some of energy device/storm generator/nuclear reactor.

Revelation 7 – The White Robes. Just the Disciples at the Time of Christ? Or Everyone.

John sees 4 angels holding back the 4 winds of the earth in all 4 directions. Another angel comes from the east and speaks to these 4 angels:

Revelation 7:3 – Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

So there will be marks on the foreheads of the servants of God. Is this for EVERY servant and believer of God? No, it’s only for members of Judah and the lost house of Israel: 1,200 for each of the 12 tribes: 144,000 total (7:4)

John sees a multitude of people in white robes, palms in hand, from “all” nations, kindreds, etc. Does this mean ALL people on the planet? John will answer this shortly. Those in white robes praise the throne, then the angels fall on their faces (7:11) and worship God.

One of the elders turns to John and asks him if he knows who those in the white robes are:

7:14 – And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the lamb.

Assuming this is the tribulation Jesus spoke of, then these who experienced the tribulation, are the same ones Jesus said would: the Disciples. Remember, in Acts we find out that many disciples are Jews and of the lost house of Israel from “all” nations who spoke foreign languages. YET they were still privy to the mission Jesus set forward. Those in white robes aren’t people of different ethnicities from all over the world, just Jews/lost house of Israel that became disciples and experienced the tribulation Jesus spoke of to them.

7:18 – They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

A fine sentiment, and one that modern Christians have adopted as their own. However, the specificity of who would undergo the tribulation as set in Jesus own words was fairly simple: those Disciples around him, the ones he trained, that walked with him on earth, who would not only experience the tribulation, but also see the kingdom of Heaven appear with their own eyes, before they “taste death”.

Revelation 4 – 5: Rev 4 Calendar/Day/Time Symbolism?

Revelation 4 – The 1 throne, 24 elders, and 4 beasts

If you thought the symbolism of the 7 churches and angels was complex, you ain’t seen nothing yet. John looks and sees a door open in the sky. A loud (?) “as it were of a trumpet” voice speaks to him, telling him to come up and see things which will be:

• Someone in the color of jasper and sardine (brown, reddish) stone sitting on a throne. A rainbow (circle? arc?) appears as emerald (green) around the throne. Thunder, lightning, and voices comes out of the throne, and what sounds like a 7 candle menorah burns as the 7 spirits of God. In front of the throne there was a “sea of glass” (floor of clear glass?). [7 days of the week?]
• Sitting around the throne are 24 elders in white clothes and gold crowns. [24 hours in a day?]
• Sitting around the throne are 4 beasts “full of eyes” front and back
  • 1 beast LIKE a lion (not a lion)
  • 2 beast LIKE a calf (not a calf)
  • 3 beast HAD a face as a man (literally face as man)
  • 4 beast LIKE a flying eagle (not an eagle)
• The 4 beasts give glory and honor, and worship the one on the throne [4 seasons around the sun; [4 parts of each day]
• The 24 elders fall before the throne, casting down their crowns saying “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (4:11)

So we have 4 “beasts”. What could they possibly symbolize? 4 seasons? Notice that 3 of the beasts were LIKE animals, but only 1 was not like, but HAD a face of man. Face = facade = side. We don’t know which characteristics each beast had of the animal it was like, so hopefully we get more context.

Let’s look at the key numbers here: 24, 7, 4. 1. Where can we see these 3 numbers in patterns? How many Suns in the sky? 1 per day. How many hours in 1 day? 24. How many days in week? 7. How many seasons in 1 year? 4. Could this all be calendrical where the “throne” is the sun, and the 24 elders are the clock, the hours in the day “around” sun. The 4 beasts equaling the 4 parts of each day? 1) Dawn, 2) Daylight (man’s time), 3) Dusk, 4) Night.

Not sure if any of these beasts symbolize anything from the Old Testament, or anything going on in or around Jerusalem or Rome at the time it was written. HOWEVER, it is at this point that John seems to be writing in code. Who was his audience? Those within his religious system that could understand this code? Something the Romans could not?

Revelation 5 – The Lamb Has the Book

In the right hand of the entity on the throne was a book closed up with 7 seals. A strong (loud?) angel asks if there is any worthy to open the book. John weeps because no one could. An elder tells him that the “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (Jesus, but in the OT was more likely Maher-shalal-hash-baz) is worthy, and appears as a lamb.

The lamb has 7 horns and 7 eyes, representing the 7 Spirits of God “sent forth in all the earth (5:6). When were the “7 Spirits of God” ever mentioned before Revelation? NEW CONTENT WITH NO BASIS, EVEN IN JESUS’ WORDS. So we can assume each “spirit” has 1 horn and 1 eye. 1 horn and 1 eye reminds me of a modern speaker. Will these “spirits” speak? If so, we could be dealing with an ancient form of the modern:

See the “horn”? See the “eye” in the middle? The iHorn speaker. Look at most modern speakers (even car speakers) and notice the “horn” and the “eye”.

The “Lamb” takes the 7 sealed book out of the entity on the throne, at which point the 24 elders and 4 beasts bow down to the Lamb. So just who are these “elders”?

Revelation 5:10 – And (the lamb) hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on earth.

So these elders are the Apostles/Disciples Jesus made “priests and kings” on earth and promised would judge over the 12 tribes of Israel. Do they reign over ALL the earth? NO.

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

Jesus reigns over the house of Jacob, “Israel”, so obviously these elders will NOT be reigning over the entire world (only the word of Israel, as in the 12 tribes as Jesus stated). So John is seeing into the future where these followers have achieved rank, where they have already entered the “kingdom of heaven” as Jesus described. The beasts and elders sing to the Lamb (Jesus):

Revelation 5:12 – Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and in wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Jesus was hung on the cross to “receive riches”? Is this why he told his followers, in the first 3 gospels, to sell all they have and give to the poor? This sounds more like the Old Testament “day of the Lord” where money is pooled in the “house of Jehovah” rather than what Jesus proposed while on earth.

Revelation 3: Angels of the Asian Churches 5 – 7

Angel #5 of Sardis

Jesus says Sardis has a name that “lives, but is dead” and they should be “ready to die. for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” (Revelation 2:2). Jesus tells them to hold fast and repent, or “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief…” (Revelation 2:3). There are a few in Sardis that will “walk in white” with Jesus:

Revelation 2:5 – … and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

So Jesus will be standing before the Father AND his angels? Is this why it was mentioned Jesus is ranked just slightly below the angels? If Jesus is God, then how can this be? Unless modern religion placing Jesus as god is incorrect. Look at Paul’s words:

Hebrews 2:7 – Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands.

So even Paul and Jesus are saying: Jesus is not ranked as god, but just below angels. VERY ODD.

Angel #6 of Philadelphia

Jesus holds the “key of David”… a statement pointing to the concept that this whole premise and system is NOT of the entire world but of the world of the Jews/Israel as justified by the references to king David of Judah. Again, Jesus references those of “the synagogue of Satan” in the presence of Philadelphia. So what is Jesus going to do? Convert and correct them? Apparently not:

Revelation 3:9 – Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

WHAT?! Didn’t Paul say, that, “in Christ” there is neither Jew nor Greek? Now we have Jesus defining Jew/not Jew. Who is the authority here? This is why I diminish the word of Paul, because Jesus is the authority.

Even more important: Jesus is NOT correcting these “Jews” but rather making them worshipers of his believers, to worship at their feet as penance. Does that sound like a Jesus thing to do?

Jesus Timeline: “Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no many take thy crown” (Revelation 3:11). Not 2,000 years later. Jesus hints to the concept of Revelation that: a new city will appear, and those who overcome will no longer have to leave that city: New Jerusalem. Which will NOT be in heaven, but on EARTH.

Angel #7 of Laodicea

Jesus tells the angel of Laodicea: “These things sayeth the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14).

Is Jesus the Amen? The Amen NOT being a closing to a prayer but an actual identity? So when people pray and say “Amen” they are really saying “Jesus”? Very odd.

Apparently Laodicea is somewhat neutral, which displeases Jesus “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:16).

Jesus sounds kind of lazy here. He wants black and white, right from wrong, but apparently Laodicea is providing neither so rather than deal with Laodicea’s neutrality he will just “spit them out”. Why does Jesus say Laodicea is lukewarm? They are “rich, increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3: 17).

Jesus advice to them: buy from him gold tried in fire, that they may be rich in white clothing, anointing their eyes with salve so they can see (Revelation 3:18). Jesus is there “at the door” and will go in if invited, and those who invite him will sit at his throne, as he sits with the Father.

Thus ends the visions of the 7 churches. Not sure why only 7 were picked, but I think it has to do with menorah symbolism, and quite possibly 7 sisters/stars symbolism as well. I haven’t gone too much into astrotheology or astrological symbolism in a while, even though it’s been present. The reason? This is my personal journey through the bible, a journey to discover whether it applies to me, on a personal level or not. I have other blogs that will address the esoteric symbolism therein, but for now, thanks to my personal questions, I will now skip it.

Revelation 2: Angels of the Asian Churches 1 – 4

The voice that John hears lays out the message to the ANGELS of the 7 churches:

Angel #1 of Ephesus

Angel of Ephesus has: tried/trialed false apostles, and found them liars. Borne, labored, not fainted. Jesus speaks to the Angel of Ephesus:

Revelation 2:4 – Nevertheless I have something against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence *thou art fallen* and repent, and do the *first works*; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

“Left thy first love” = “Left thy habitation? Left thy first covenant (with God)?”. Why does Jesus call this angel “fallen”… are we dealing with a fallen angel that has taken over Ephesus? Could Jesus be speaking of Paul? Jesus hates Nicolaitans, which the Angel of Ephesus also hates, which is a plus to Jesus.

Angel #2 of Smyrna

Smyrna has undergone works, tribulation, and poverty (despite being rich, in what? Jesus doesn’t say). There seems to be an issue of “Jews” who blaspheme but who are not Jews but the “Synagogue of Satan”.

Since when do Synagogues matter in the time of Christ and Christianity?

Smyrna is going to suffer: Devil will cast some into prison, 10 days of tribulation, “be faithful unto death (2:10) so it looks like some will die.

Angel #3 of Pergamos

Jesus knows their work and where they are at. There is a “Satan’s Seat” in Pergamos but they have held fast Jesus name and have not denied their faith.

2:14 – But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam… to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. So hast thou them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Getting the idea that, much like with Paul, Peter, James, John, and Jude, these churches are all screwed up. To the point Jesus has to come down from wherever he is at to issue another set of commands. Which really goes against Gospels 1-3 where the plan was clearly laid out. Back to the story:

Jesus final command to the Angel and church at Pergamos: “Repent or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.” (2:16).

Why is any of this necessary? Jesus had clearly laid out the plan for the future in Gospels 1 – 3? What is all this new stuff?

Angel #4 of Thyatira

Jesus also has a few issues here despite knowing the works of this church:

Revelation 1:20 – Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Why is Jesus still dealing with EARTHLY things? In the Gospels his final prayer to God the Father including the “my work here is done” phrase as he stepped into the stage of his crucifixion and resurrection! This story in Revelation isn’t adding up.

Jesus threat to the Angel and church of Thyatira: Jezebel and those who lie with her will be cast into tribulation.

Revelation 2:23 – And I will kill her children with death…

Jesus will return to kill children. OK. However to the rest of the church of Thyatira, they are ok because they have not “known Satan” there.

Not sure if this verse is for Thyatira or for the 7 churches in general:

Revelation 2:27 – And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give them the morning star.

What’s this “morning star” to give? The planet Venus is often called the morning star. And what is this all new stuff about “power over the nations” and “ruling with a rod of iron”? Did Jesus mention this in the Gospels? NEW CONTENT but why?!

Jude 1: Who are the Brute, Natural Beasts?

The 3rd of the original 12 to write, Jude, is writing to an unspecified group, no location or church named. Much like the previous letters, it comes with praise and warnings, specifically this warning:

Jude 1:4 – For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Knowing for a fact, in Paul’s own words, I’m always suspect that these original Apostles might be writing of Paul. Here it doesn’t sound so much like Paul. HOWEVER, one part has me wondering: “who were before of old ordained to this condemnation”.

“Before of old” Paul was ordained/ordered to persecute the believers, remember, he often times mentions that he’s a Roman citizen. It’s a stretch but thanks to Jude not leaving any helpful hint in his letter, that’s about as far as I can go. Paul didn’t deny God or Jesus (at least not biblically) HOWEVER he can be blamed for inviting countless Gentiles into the fold.

Jude warns about these “certain men” by reminding his audience about Jehovah saving the people from Egypt and then destroyed those who didn’t believe.

Jude 1:6 – And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgement of the great day.

This is hard one, the only biblical reference I can think of is in Genesis 6:4:

Genesis 6:4 – There were giants (nephilim) in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Now, some say “nephilim” actually means “fallen ones”, but biblehub.com just says “giants and fellers (as in fellers of trees for example?) So no real good context of who these angels were who left their own habitation. It makes some sense they left their habitation of heaven to go to earth to have children with earthly women, but again not enough context. As well, to make this argument, I’d have to say that Angels = sons of God and I can’t do that, not enough information. So yet another mystery to move on from.

Another odd verse with context not mentioned in the Old Testament:

Jude 1:9 – Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Why were Michael and the Devil disputing about Moses’ dead body? It makes sense, in a way:

1) Jehovah hated Moses for the incident at Meribah, so much that he refused to allow Moses into the promised land, and Moses died not being favored by Jehovah. Thus: he goes to the Devil. 2) Despite screwing up, Moses was a faithful servant from start to finish, rarely not following orders. Thus: he goes with archangel Michael. Who knows, this may be just how the dispute went. Yet another mystery to have to move on from.

So just who are these filthy dreamers who “defile flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities” (Jude 1:8)?

Jude 1:10 – But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

Last time we heard of these “brute beasts” was in 2 Peter 2. Peter described them as:

2 Peter 2: 12 – But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption… Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin… Which have forsaken the right way, and are *gone astray*…

I made the argument he might be speaking of the non-Jewish/Israel Gentiles. Especially the ones who were converted, but then *gone astray*. I’ve read this same kind of language in 15th and 16th century testimonies of European explorers describing the “natives”, like my ancestors, who they find living in *nature* as savages or devils, much like Peter and Jude describe *as (a) natural brute beast*.

Jude goes on to parallel Peter about these *brute beasts*: “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you…” (Jude 1:12) again possibly referring to Galatians 2:11 where it mentions that James once sat and ate with the Gentiles, only to withdraw. Yet Paul went on a mass mission of saving and possibly “feasting” with Gentiles.

This could all be reference to converted Jews who then then went *astray* but I’ve never heard the Jew/Israel people speak of others within their group and system like this, regardless of how awful they were. I believe they are speaking of foreigners and I believe they are speaking of the Gentiles.

Jude continues, saying that Enoch had prophecy of these “ungodly” people, where they would be judged. However, Jude also reminds his audience that the Apostles told them that, in the end times, these ungodly people would be present. Jude signs off with a formal goodbye, and with that, the last of the testimonies and context of the ORIGINAL 12 Apostles is over.

2 John 1, 3 John 1

2 John 1

A letter to an unnamed woman and her children. John is warning them about another type of antichrist: One who does not believe that Jesus “came in the flesh” (1:7). She is instructed to not welcome him into her house, or wish him godspeed, because anyone who does is partaking of his evil deeds (1:11). John then lets her know he hopes to visit her soon.

3 John 1

A letter to Gaius (same Gaius that Paul wrote too in Romans 16?). It seems that Gaius has done well for brethren AND strangers, who have let John know of Gaius’ charity. John tells Gaius if he brings them “forward on a journey after a godly sort” (1:6) Gaius will do well.

1:7 – Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, *taking nothing of the Gentiles.*

Because the goal is of “the truth” (1:8). Mysterious verse. First off who is “his” name? Jesus who told his followers not to go to the Gentiles in Matthew 10:5? Gaius is mentioned briefly in 2 other verses: 1 Corinthians 1:14 and Acts 19 and 20 with Paul. And we know Paul was out commingling with Gentiles.

Is this John telling Gaius, nay, correcting Gaius about taking of the Gentiles, the way Paul did?

John then states he had previously written to the church, but Diotrephes (no previous mention in the bible) did not receive John and the others.

Is this because Diotrephes was an ally of Paul and not the original Apostles? Thus he rejected the original Apostles?

John accuses Diotrephes of being malicious and not accepting the “brethren” and “casting them out of the church” (1:10). He tells Gaius to “follow not that which is evil”:

1:11 – But he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Who was the ONE individual that did not see Jesus in the flesh? Paul. Is John referencing this point? Or a general statement that one who has seen God does good. John signs off with a promise to visit.

Thus ends the the testimonies of John. John calls himself an “elder” so he must be older, and this is all we get? Sort of disappointing. Yes I know Revelation is John but I was looking for more context around Jesus, the times after his resurrection, more information on the split from the original Apostles from Paul, how the churches the original Apostles started worked out, etc. Looking forward I see only one more letter from the Apostle Jude and then it’s the end, with Revelation. I was really hoping for more so now it all remains a mystery. Unless Jude hits a Grand Slam and covers it all in one letter.

1 John 1 – 5. Paul an antichrist?

John of the Gospels? Possibly, but with no formal introduction we can only guess.

1 John 1

Similar writing to style to Paul and Peter. I’ll be picking out the important stuff and gleaning over the repetitive language we saw in the previous books:

1 John 1 – This then is the message… that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

This is not referring to Jesus (see verse 1:7). However it reminds me of this verse:

1 Kings 8:12 – Then spake Solomon, The LORD said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

Again, the big discrepancy between the Lord of the Old Testament that claimed both good and evil and the “good” god of light in the New:

Isaiah 45:7 – I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

Either way, I’ve made my judgement on the Lord long ago, so I continue. John too seems to agree with Paul, and go against Jesus’ words of distinguishing between sinners and righteous when he says:

1 John 1:8 – If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves…

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

I get the idea of humbling oneself, but to to force everyone to believe they are sinners, despite the founder and savior of your religion saying one can be righteous, is pretty bad optics, if not deception. If John knew of Luke 5:32, Jesus’ own words, then wouldn’t he be pushing his followers to strive for righteousness instead of going with the “woe is us, we are all sinners!” Paul strategy? After all, in my opinion at least, JESUS IS THE AUTHORITY HERE. If he says there are righteous people, then there are righteous people!

1 John 2

“… and *if* any man sin…” (2:1). WHAT? C’mon John, you just told us all men sin (1:8), now you say “if” they sin. Ok, so far none of these Apostles have shown consistency to either their own words or Jesus’ words as we are told they do. Here’s John’s strategy (compare to Paul’s):

2:7 – Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you…

In all fairness, Paul did state all those rules he made up were not “commandments” but permissions, but the overall point is they were NEW, some skirting the “law” of Moses the Jews were familiar with. John’s version of the golden rule deals more with being “in the light” when one “loveth the brother” (2:10). John continues with “don’t love the world” theme because it goes against God.

John Timeline Context (finally): “Little children, *it is the last time*: and as ye have heard that the antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time (2:18).

Look at how Paul describes the “many antichrists”:

2:19 – They went out *from us*, they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out…

Is John calling Paul an antichrist?

WHOA! Who “went out from” the original disciples: PAUL. Who didn’t continue with the original disciples: PAUL. So far, John, unlike Peter, hasn’t mentioned Paul, and we have NO IDEA where we are in the timeline (thanks to the bible collators who like to shuffle books around.) BUT, so far, we know of only one person/group that went out “from the disciples” but continued not with them: Paul.

It’s sounding more and more so, but I’m hoping we get more information. Remember: Jesus told his disciples to NOT go to the Gentiles. Paul went to the Gentiles. Paul seems anti- against the wishes of Jesus. An antichrist.

Just a theory but sounding more plausible. What’s’ important here is that Paul fits the definition of antichrist, not THE antichrist AND that there are antichrists out there, not just one. John notes that those who deny Jesus is Christ or deny the Father and the son, are antichrist. It’s a general term. Also important is that John uses the notion that these antichrists are out there notes that the end time is present as he writes this letter.

John finished Chapter 2 with the idea that the anointing the audience received was enough, and they need “not that any man teach you” (2:27). Another possible jab at Paul, who made zero mention that anointing of Jesus was enough.

1 John 3

While Jesus called himself the Son of man, John says “we shall be called the sons of God” (3:1). John also tell his audience that when Jesus comes “we shall see him as he is” (3:1). Verse 8: Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil.

3:15 – Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

The redefining of “murderer”. Unfortunately I know plenty of Christians that hate <insert group here>. Does this verse apply to them if they don’t consider <group> their brothers? John has a revised version of the golden rule for the people of his time awaiting the imminent return of Jesus and the kingdom of heaven: “Believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (3:23). Pretty simple and straightforward, compared to some of what Paul provided his followers.

1 John 4

John’s mandates are much simpler than Paul’s. It might be because he’s speaking to a Jew/Israelite audience that already has established concepts ingrained, as opposed to Paul speaking to strange peoples in far away lands. John says to “try every spirit” (4:1) because there are plenty of false prophets around. The sign of a true spirit: their belief that Jesus in the flesh is of God. How much more simple can it get. Want a non simple verse:

4:8 – He that loveth not knoweth not God

Might be the most jumbled verse I’ve seen so far. How can you use 2 “nots” without erasing and re-writing the sentence and eliminating it easily to 1. John also states that “No man hath seen God at any time” (4:12) I’ve already addressed this by noting that multiple men supposedly saw God in the Old Testament (unless they are different gods). Verse 14 Jesus is the “saviour of the world” (Luke 2 defines “world”). John expounds on “love” towards fellow man equaling a love of God.

1 John 5

John continues on the “love” that equals God and man, more specifically man who are called the “children of God”.

5:7 – For there are 3 that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these 3 are one.

Since when does 3 = 1? I’ve seen the modern Christian math explain it, but still. There are terms missing in these descriptions and John could have included these terms but he didn’t, as if it was some sort of practical joke for laughs 2,000 years later. Some Christians use the word Trinity to explain the 3 = 1 math, much to the chagrin of other Christians. That’s all I’ll say on that matter because that’s not my battle, nor do I feel it’s a battle that can be won. What’s more important to me is this verse:

5:8 – And there are 3 that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these 3 agree in one.

Who’s spirit, which water, and who’s blood? I get the “as above, so below” (which might be my first reference to that verse) but John has left out the context.

Two sins: A sin unto death (do not pray for it) and a sin NOT unto death (pray for it). John’s last words in 1 John: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (5:21)